Osi retorts used in the production of spelter



H. W. BRAHE. HANDLING OF RETORTS USED IN THE PRODUCTION or SPELTER.

APPLICAIION FILED FEB-27.1918.

1,323,575. r Patented Dec. 2,1919.

Inventor H. W. Bra/721a Tlliii STTES PATENT OFTQE.

HENRY WILLIAM name, or rear Pin-rs, scorn AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA, nssrenon T0 BROKEN HILL ASSOCIATED srrnnrnas raornrnraav LIMITED, or roar rIaIE,

SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.

HANDLING OF RET'ORTS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF SPELTER.

teasers.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 27, 1918. Serial No; 219,509.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY l/VILLIAM Bnirrn, foreman a subject of the King of Grea t Britain, residing at Port Pirie, in the i'rltate of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in the Handling of sponding reduction in working costs and further whereby certain arduous operations as at present conducted are avoided.

In the metallurgy of zlnc at present conducted the oxidizedzinc ore mixed withi a reducing agent such as coke. is heated in retortsand the metallic zindvapor therefrom is condensed in the form of spelter.

These retorts are made of fire clay and after being molded and while still in the green state are placed in a-furnace or kiln in which they are stacked in. a vertical position and where they are suitably burned.

These retorts require to be removed from this furnace while red hot" and transferred to the distillationfurnace in which. they are set substantially horizontal. The operation of handling these retorts is usually effected by hand and involves great care and the 7 employment of a gang of men 'usually from 3 to 4, and the work is arduous and unpleasant.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for the handling'of retorts usedin the production. of spelter or metalliczinc whereby certainmechanical devices are afforded for the proper handling and support of the said retorts thereby dispensing with a proportion ofthe-labor employed and avoiding the arduou part thereof; 7

I accomplish this object by providingimproved means for thesupport and conveyonce of these retort-s which comprise a long lifting bar or lever pivoted or supported at or about its center to a traveling carrier the forward end being adapted to be inserted into the interior of theretort to support the same during transport and positioning. The rearward end of the said lever may be provided with a balance weight slidable thereon while the aforesaid carrier is so mounted that it may. be conducted to and from any one of the preheating kilns and to and from any one of the distilling furnaces.

In order that the-invention may be readily understood reference will now be had to the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention showing a retort in section supported by'the same.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan of aportion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing a modified form of apparatus. 7

Fig. 4' isa view in sectional end elevation of the modified form of apparatus on the plane H of Fig. 3.

In these drawings the letter a designates from above the front of the kilns to above the front of the furnace. The kilns and furnaces are not shown in the drawings as they donotform part of the invention which can be-used with any ordinary form of kiln or furnace. The overhead carrier Z) supports a hoist c to which the lifting bar or lever (Z is attached by means of a chain c so, that it may be raised and lowered to suit the different vertical positions in which the retort-s have to be placed. The hoist can be operated by a chain 6. The chain c is secured to the center or approximately to the center of the lifting bar at by means of a swivel connection 'f which permits of the said lifting bar being swung around quite freely in any direction.

The lifting bar or lever d can be made of any'approved shape in cross section and is formed on the top and forward end with a curved seat (5 adapted to fit the inside contour of the retort 7. being handled. VVhen' handling green retorts the lifting bar or lever cl would preferably be formed ofwood and if necessary padded with felt, leather or the like gP-see Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The rearward portion of the lifting bar or lever cl has a counter-weight h slidably mounted thereon to counter-balance the weightof the retort when the same is being transported and to counterbalance the overhanging bar (Z when no load is being carried. For this purpose the said counter-weight is Patented Dec. 2, 1919'.

the end thereof.

adjustable in position and can be securely fastened in its adjusted position on the bar or lever by means of a locking lever or screw 2'.

The rear end of the lifting bar or lever 62 is fitted with handles 7' which permit of the said lifting bar or lever being conveniently controlled when supporting a retort. A stop 7; is fitted to or adjustably secured by. any approved means to the top of the lifting bar or lever to prevent the same being thrust too far into the retort and cause damage to This stop is not necessary if the bar is sufficiently long and is provided with a flanged end adapted to enthe butt end of the retort.

In the modified form of apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and e of the drawings the. swivel connection f is 'pivotally secured to the center of a saddle Z throughwhich the lifting bar is adapted to slide endwise. The bottom of the saddle Z is provided with antifriction members m which insure freedom of move ment to the 'bar or lever when supporting a retort and being moved endwise therein.

A stop n is fitted adjustably to the lifting bar or lever a? or other equivalent device which is adapted to limit the distance to which the said bar or lever may enter the retort. A. second stop 0 is mounted adjustably on the lifting bar or lever (Z and this said stop is secured in any desired position by tightening up a lever screw 7). The position of the stop 0 determines the extent to which the bar or lever (Z can be thrust through the saddle Z.

The forward end of the lifting bar or lever can be enlarged as shown in Fi l. to minimize the danger of the butt end of the retort being knocked out or damaged should the said bar or lever be thrust forcibly thereagainst. My; improved method of handling the re torts while in a green state and when being moved to and from the kilns in a heated conditioncomprises a new series of the kiln by inserting the forward end of the lifting bar or lever therein and adjusting the counter-welght to, balance the weight of the said retort. The retort is withdrawn from the kiln and conveyed to the distillation furnace by operating the carrier or telpher and then the retort 1S placed in position in the furnace, by unlocking the lever p and pushing the retort into position endwise on the weight of the saddle thereby by causing the rod to move anti-friction members, the retort being carried by the minimizing the labor of position.

is charged and luted to by and adapted to be' nioved endwi e placing it in When the retort is placed in positionit 65 its respective condenser. The'invention is exceedingly simple in construction and can beoperated by two men with comparative ease. V o

Various other n'iodifications and alterations may be made in the invention, in the direction indicated, without departing fron'i the spirit and scope of the same, and 1 there fore, do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact constructions illustrated or to the precise terms employed in the description.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for use in handli retorts a saddle suspended at or about center from-a movable support and a g bar or lever supported by and aeapted. to s move endwise in the saddle whereby the re tort can be pushed into a furnace while the weight is still supported by the saddle. 2. In an apparatus for use in handlin retorts used in the production of spelter saddle having a swivel support at or she ohn its center from a travelinghoist, antifrie tional rollers or balls in the bottom of the saddle a lifting bar or lever passing through the saddle and resting on the antifrictionel rollers or balls therein, and means for lirniting the inoveinentof the lifting bar or lever through the saddle, substantially as described. i Y 3. In an apparatus for useinhandling retorts used in the production of spclter, the combination of a saddle havingla swivel. support at or about its center from a traveling hoist, a lifting bar or lever supported through the saddle, one end of the lifting bar shaped on its top to the contour of the interior of a retort, tUl'QXtQHSlOH or handles on the opposite end of the lifting bar or lever, and an adjustable stop or fastening means for limiting the movement of the lifting bar or lever in the saddle, substan-E tially as described. 7

l. In an apparatus for use in handling retorts used in the production of'spelter, the combination of a saddle having a swivel support at or about its center from a traveling hoist, a'liftin'g bar or lever supported by and adapted to be moved endwiso through the saddle,one end ofthe lifting bar shaped on its top to the contourof the interior of a retort,a counterweight mounted adjustably 7-11 the opposite end ofsaid lifting bar or lever, and handles on the lifting bar orlcver for operating the same. f 2

V In testimony whereof I aifiirmy signature inpresence of two witnesses. V

' fiHENRYWVlLlilIAM BRAHE. iVitnessesz' v Q H -DORLS Osnonnn, ROY YOUNG. 

